Undecided SC Republicans: Iowa outcome will not be factor in primary vote

HORRY COUNTY, SC (WWAY) — The outcome of the Iowa caucuses is supposed to be a big predictor of how the rest of the country will vote. With South Carolina being the first southern state to vote, we crossed the border to see if tomorrow’s results will have any affect on how Palmetto State Republicans vote.

“It would not affect me at all,” said Bill Swanke, an undecided Republican in Horry County. “Especially if that Ron Paul guy wins.”

The Iowa caucuses have gotten their fair share of media attention, many framing it to be a huge influence on who will get the Republican nomination. However, folks in the Palmetto State say its just hype.

“I think it’s a big to do about nothing,” said Gary Oberman, a South Carolina Republican. “About the only thing that it will do is weed out some of the candidates that I wouldn’t vote for anyways.”

Despite all the attention, Iowa voters have a mixed record of picking the eventual nominee. Over the past 40 years they have picked the winner 50 percent of the time. No candidate that’s finished worse than 3rd place in Iowa has ever gone on to win their party’s nomination.

Several undecided South Carolina Republicans say the results will not be a factor in their final decision.

“I’m really not going to pay any attention to it,” said Oberman. “In other words, you can’t believe everything everybody says.” They’re just trying to out do one another and when they get here I will pay attention.”

“I think the key here will be who can win and beat Obama,” said Swanke.

Obama is the most recent president to win the Iowa caucus, which was in 2008. South Carolina’s primary vote is on January 21.